South Africa: Winnie continues fight for Mandela's estates

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has slammed the executors of Nelson Mandela's estate for associating themselves with “racist and colonialist” view that civil laws are superior to customary laws.

This was after Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, Eastern Cape Judge President Themba Sangoni and Advocate George Bizos responded to her application for a court ruling on her claim to the Qunu property where the global statesman is buried. The property is registered in Mandela's name.

However, Madikizela-Mandela is requesting the Mthatha High Court in the Eastern Cape to rule on the ownership spat.

She sparked an outcry last year when she launched a legal challenge against the estate, with her lawyers claiming that her divorce from the former President was fraudulently obtained.

Her lawyer, Mvuzo Notyesi, claimed that the local tribal custom dictates that the rights to the property go to Madikizela-Mandela and her descendants. She has disputed the judge’s “colonialist” view that her customary marriage to Mandela was overridden by her civil marriage.

Furthermore, she claims that her customary marriage to Mandela was never dissolved.

Madikizela-Mandela, who was known as “the Mother of the Nation” during Mandela's lengthy imprisonment, was married to him for 38 years. Although they were still married when Mandela became president of South Africa in May 1994, they had been separated since 1992 after she had a high-profile affair. Their divorce was finalised in 1996.

Mandela, who remarried former Mozambican First Lady Graca Machel on his 80th birthday, excluded Madikizela-Mandela from his will.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 7May2015